For the ninth year, the State Fair of Texas and the Friends of Juanita Craft Civil Rights House & Museum are proud to announce the recipients of the Juanita Craft Humanitarian Awards. Juanita Craft tirelessly fought for civil rights and played a crucial role in integrating many Dallas establishments, including the State Fair of Texas. In honor of her efforts, achievements, and impact, the State Fair and the Friends of Juanita Craft Civil Rights House & Museum commend the following individuals who continue her legacy as advocates for positive change in our community. Winners were recognized on Sunday, October 11, at the Briscoe Carpenter Livestock Center in the ballroom during the 2026 State Fair of Texas.
The Friends of Juanita Craft Civil Rights House & Museum and the State Fair of Texas collaboratively established and executed the award selection process, where nominations are evaluated based on impact, active involvement in the community, commitment to social justice through notable efforts, evidence of time and resources used to address issues in the community, and the quality of the submission. In partnership with Friends of Juanita Craft Civil Rights House & Museum and with the support of Fifth Third Bank, the State Fair of Texas brings the community together to celebrate the Humanitarian Award recipients.
Spark Award
First awarded in 2019, the Spark Award is designed to recognize a young person between the ages of 14-21 that is making an impact in their schools, neighborhood, or local community by contributing to making our world an even better place now and in the future.
Spark Award Recipient – Carrah-Ahlyse Rone
Carrah-Ahlyse Rone is a current undergraduate freshman at Sam Houston State University, where she is a member of the Honors College and currently holds a 3.0 GPA. She would describe herself as a goal-oriented Criminal Justice major who is passionate about rehabilitation, community impact, and understanding how the justice system affects individuals and society. She has completed dual-credit coursework in Introduction to Criminal Justice, Crime in America, and Police Systems and Practices. She has also completed several AP courses, including AP United States History, AP Seminar, AP Language and Composition, and AP African American Studies.
As a dedicated leader, she previously served as Vice President of both her high school’s Black Student Union and the Dallas Juanita Craft NAACP Youth Council. In these roles, she helped lead meetings, manage social media, and organize community initiatives. As she establishes herself at her new university, she is involved in the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice, the NAACP, and the National Council of Negro Women.
Throughout high school, she also completed internships with State Representative Venton Jones and the DeSoto Senior Activity Center, where she developed strong communication, organizational, and research skills. She has been recognized as an AP Scholar and Dallas ISD Distinguished Scholar, and she is a member of the National Honor Society. She was also honored with a proclamation from Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett.
She is currently pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice and aspires to build a career dedicated to promoting fairness, rehabilitation, and meaningful change within the justice system.
Catalyst Award
Individuals under the age of 40 who are making an impact on civil and human rights in the city of Dallas by creating new initiatives and opportunities.
Catalyst Award Recipient – Dylan Rafaty
Dylan M. Rafaty is an influencer and disability rights activist committed to serving all people with disabilities in Texas and the United States. Because of his family roots, Dylan continues to devote his love for cultural diversity in communities since birth and is deeply well-connected across the globe due to his character, kindness, love for people, and passion.
His personal mission in life is to increase opportunities by opening new doors so that everyone can have an overall better quality of life. Because of this, Dylan’s successes include bringing innovative ideas to the table, establishing strategic partnerships, and building alliances to create systemic change within communities and organizations. Dylan is a vocal advocate for corporate social responsibility with an entrepreneurial and growth mindset. He builds strong relationships while earning the respect and trust of our citizens, duly elected leaders, regional business/nonprofit communities, and academic/government agencies.
Some notable recognitions include being inducted into the Susan M. Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame and awarded the Oticon’s Focus on People Advocacy Award in 2020, selected as a Dallas Business Journal’s Leaders in Diversity Award honoree and Plano Chamber of Commerce’s Rising Star Award winner in 2021, finalist for the 2022 Tech Titans Community Hero Award, North Texas Commission’s Diversity Champion Award winner in 2023, winner of the Charmaine Solomon Service Award, Difference Maker Award, and Accessibility for All Award in 2025, and named twice as one of the most powerful business leaders in North Texas on D CEO’s 2025 & 2026 Edition of Dallas 500.
Dylan has previously served on several executive boards across several focus areas, including advocacy, education, sports, workforce, etc. Dylan is currently an Ex-Officio Member for the North Texas Commission, Leadership Council Member for Visit Dallas, and Secretary of the Multicultural Committee for the City of Frisco. Dylan is a proud graduate of the Plano Citizens Academy, Plano Citizens Fire Academy, the Ruderman Family Foundation’s LINK National Leadership program, Plano Chamber’s Leadership Plano (Class 38), Communities Foundation of Texas’ Emerging Leaders in Philanthropy (4th Cohort), and the North Texas Commission’s Leadership North Texas (Class 14) program.
As a proud special education graduate of Plano ISD, Dylan has gone on to receive his certified diversity professional (CDP) certification from the National Diversity Council, earned his A.A. at Collin College, B.S. in industrial and organizational psychology at the University of Phoenix, and an M.A. in dispute resolution at Southern Methodist University. In addition, Dylan is currently attending the EdD in organizational change and leadership program at the University of Southern California. Currently, Dylan is the Founder, President & CEO of the North Texas Disability Chamber and proudly resides in Frisco, Texas.
Visionary Award
Designed to recognize individuals whose contributions are currently creating a positive effect on civil rights and community transformation in Dallas. This individual has committed their personal time, resources, and passion to take on a challenge that addresses equity and fairness presently.
Visionary Award Recipient – Traswell C. Livingston III
Traswell C. Livingston III is a housing and community development leader who has spent nearly three decades working to create opportunity, stability, and stronger communities in Dallas.
He serves as President and CEO of ASD – A Home for Life, where he has led the organization since 2018. Under his leadership, ASD has significantly expanded its housing footprint and strengthened its work at the intersection of housing, health, and supportive services. His leadership is grounded in a simple belief: housing is health, and everyone deserves a place to call home.
Traswell’s career has spanned affordable housing, real estate, nonprofit leadership, and community development. As a licensed Texas real estate broker, he has also served in local and national civic leadership roles, including leadership with the National HIV/AIDS Housing Coalition and service on the Dallas Landmark Commission.
A longtime South Dallas resident, Traswell has spent much of his career working to expand investment, housing opportunities, and visibility for people and neighborhoods too often overlooked. He believes leadership is ultimately measured not by titles, but by whether we leave people, organizations, and communities stronger than we found them.
Traswell is a husband and proud father of two daughters. For him, building stronger communities is more than a professional calling, it is deeply personal and rooted in the community his family calls home.
Legacy Award
A lifetime achievement award for individuals, families, or organizations that have made important and sustained contributions to the understanding and promotion of civil rights.
Legacy Award Recipient – Denise Valentine
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to parents originally from Houston, Texas, Denise Valentine was raised in Hilo until the age of 11, when her family relocated to Houston. Growing up with three brothers and surrounded by a large extended group of family and friends, Denise was deeply rooted in the values of service, community, and family.
In 1994, she moved to DeSoto, Texas, where she became a dedicated and impactful community leader. Married for 32 years, she is a proud mother of four, grandmother of 10, and great-grandmother of 10. Denise retired from Lucent Technologies in 2001 after 27 years of service, and the following year, she began a second career as a natural hairstylist, running her own business until retiring again in 2017.
Denise’s civic engagement in DeSoto has been both deep and wide-ranging. She served on the DeSoto Zoning Board of Adjustment and the Planning and Zoning Commission from 2002 to 2007. A graduate of both Leadership Southwest (2003) and the United Way Blueprint for Leadership (2001), she went on to serve on numerous nonprofit boards, including AIDS Arms and the Mental Health Association.
She was an active member of the DeSoto Chamber of Commerce from 2002 to 2007, serving on the Board of Directors and chairing the Government Committee. Her work earned her the Bobby Waddle Citizen of the Year Award in 2007.
From 2007 to 2013, Denise served on the DeSoto City Council, where she was Mayor Pro Tem in 2012 and 2013. As Council Liaison to the Arts Commission, she advocated for creative initiatives and also co-created the BRAWL Boxing Program (2012–2014), a youth engagement and mentorship effort.
In 2010, she founded the DeSoto Police and Clergy partnership, serving as chair until 2017. Under her leadership, programs like “Minister On Call,” “Adopt a Game,” “No More Violence,” and “H.O.P.E.” impacted youth, families, and the broader community. She also spearheaded the DeSoto Domestic Violence Advisory Commission (2015–2017), collaborating with DeSoto ISD to stage awareness performances during Domestic Violence Awareness Month and to display powerful visual trailers in public spaces.
Denise formally retired from community service in December 2017. In honor of her contributions, the City of DeSoto designated December 19 as Denise Valentine Day—a lasting tribute to a woman whose service has transformed lives and strengthened her community.
In addition to her extensive civic service, Denise founded and currently chairs the Denise Valentine Foundation, continuing her lifelong commitment to community empowerment and outreach. In recognition of her extraordinary legacy, she received the Curtistene S. McCowan Award in 2024 for her lifetime of volunteer and community service activities.
For more information on the Juanita Craft Humanitarian Awards, please visit BigTex.com/JCHA. For more information on the Juanita Craft Scholarship and how to apply, please visit BigTex.com/Scholarship. For more information on the Friends of Juanita Craft Civil Rights House & Museum, please visit FriendsofJuanitaCraft.org.